3 TIMES IN 3 YRS. I'VE FOUND WATER IN MY DRIVER-SIDE REAR TAIL-LIGHT????? I'VE HAD TO UNSCREW IT AND DRAIN THE WATER OUT AND REPLACE MY BULB.. *TR
2009 Chrysler Pt Cruiser
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Fewer warning signs than most model years
Owner complaints for the 2009 Chrysler Pt Cruiser are lower than the model-year median of 202.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Pt Cruiser years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
86 reports with mileage · 11 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 60 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
97 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2009 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A LOUD NOISE EMITTED OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROADWAY AND NOTICED THAT THE TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE, CAUSING THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE TO DEFLATE. THE SPARE TIRE WAS INSTALLED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2009 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A LOUD NOISE EMITTED OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROADWAY AND NOTICED THAT THE TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE, CAUSING THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE TO DEFLATE. THE SPARE TIRE WAS INSTALLED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,997.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED A LOUD NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL BEARINGS AND HUBS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILU…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHRYSLER PT CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED A LOUD NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL BEARINGS AND HUBS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND THE TECHNICIAN VERIFIED THAT THE WHEEL BEARING AND HUBS WERE DEFECTIVE ONCE AGAIN. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS WITHIN A VERY SMALL TIME FRAME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 69,000. *TR
WHILE DRIVING TO WORK THE GAUGES ALL DIP TO ZERO THEN ALL THE DASH LIGHTS COME LIKE WHEN THE ENGINE IS FIRST STARTED. IF THE GAUGE DIP IS SHORT THEN THE ENGINE CONTINUES TO RUN. LATELY (SINCE JAN) THE GAUGES HAVE STAYING IN THE ZERO POSITION LONGER AND THE ENGINE LOSES POWER. SOMETIMES THE ENGINE WILL PICK BACK UP SOMETIMES NOT.…
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WHILE DRIVING TO WORK THE GAUGES ALL DIP TO ZERO THEN ALL THE DASH LIGHTS COME LIKE WHEN THE ENGINE IS FIRST STARTED. IF THE GAUGE DIP IS SHORT THEN THE ENGINE CONTINUES TO RUN. LATELY (SINCE JAN) THE GAUGES HAVE STAYING IN THE ZERO POSITION LONGER AND THE ENGINE LOSES POWER. SOMETIMES THE ENGINE WILL PICK BACK UP SOMETIMES NOT. IF IT DOESN'T THEN I HAVE PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND IT WILL RESTART. THIS HAPPENS SEVERAL TIMES IN SUCCESSION AND SOMETIMES JUST EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE BUT ALMOST ALWAYS 4 OR 5 TIMES IN 45 MILES. ONCE THE CAR HAS HAD A CHANCE TO SIT DURING THE DAY I DON'T HAVE THE PROBLEM ON THE WAY HOME. IT SEEMS TO HAVE THIS ISSUE THE MOST ON DAYS WHEN WE HAVE A HEAVY DEW. RAIN DOES NOT SEEM TO BE A PROBLEM. I THINK MOISTURE IS BEING PULLED IN DURING THE COOL DOWN AND CAUSING THIS ISSUE. I JUST DON'T KNOW WHERE. THE DEALER (AFTER 4 DAYS) CAN'T SEEM TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. MY BIGGEST FEAR IS IF THIS SHOULD HAPPEN WHEN PULLING OUT IN TRAFFIC OR IN A CORNER AS I LOSE POWER STEERING. *TR
DOOR WILL NOT OPEN AFTER CAR IS IN PARK, ENGINE TURNED OFF, KEY IS REMOVED FROM IGNITION. I HAVE TO RE-START ENGINE TO POWER DOWN DRIVER'S WINDOW TO REACH THROUGH OPEN WINDOW TO OPEN DOOR FROM OUTSIDE DOOR LATCH. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULIPLE OCCURRENCES WITH NO OBVIOUS REASONS. SHOULD THERE BE AN EMERGENCY TO EXIT VEHICLE, MY C…
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DOOR WILL NOT OPEN AFTER CAR IS IN PARK, ENGINE TURNED OFF, KEY IS REMOVED FROM IGNITION. I HAVE TO RE-START ENGINE TO POWER DOWN DRIVER'S WINDOW TO REACH THROUGH OPEN WINDOW TO OPEN DOOR FROM OUTSIDE DOOR LATCH. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULIPLE OCCURRENCES WITH NO OBVIOUS REASONS. SHOULD THERE BE AN EMERGENCY TO EXIT VEHICLE, MY CONCERN IS WOULD I BE ABLE TO GET OUT. *TR
WHILE TRAVELING DOWN THE QEW HIGHWAY IN ONTARIO, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ON MY PT 2009 CRUISER STARTED BLINKING ON AND OFF, THE GAUGES WENT WILD WITH UP AND DOWN FULL-RANGE SWINGS, THEN BLINKING ON AND OFF ON AND OFF; I THOUGHT THE SEATBELT MAY BE THE PROBLEM SINCE THE FASTEN SEATBELT INDICATOR REMAINED "ON." IT HAPPENED AGAIN A …
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WHILE TRAVELING DOWN THE QEW HIGHWAY IN ONTARIO, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ON MY PT 2009 CRUISER STARTED BLINKING ON AND OFF, THE GAUGES WENT WILD WITH UP AND DOWN FULL-RANGE SWINGS, THEN BLINKING ON AND OFF ON AND OFF; I THOUGHT THE SEATBELT MAY BE THE PROBLEM SINCE THE FASTEN SEATBELT INDICATOR REMAINED "ON." IT HAPPENED AGAIN A SECOND TIME RIGHT AWAY (LESS THAN 2 MINUTES) ACCOMPANIED BY LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. I HEARD SPUTTERING, AND THEN THE ENGINE DIED, AND I HAD TO GUIDE IT TO A RESTING SPOT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT POWER STEERING; NOT FUN. I WAS IN NEAR HAMILTON, ONTARIO, AND MANAGED TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY SAFELY. I INSPECTED UNDER THE HOOD AND NOTHING SEEMED OUT OF THE ORDINARY AT ALL. ENGINE RESTARTED RIGHT AWAY, AND I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT BACK TO E. AMHERST NY. THIS IS TOTALLY UNSAFE! I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT GETTING MY FAMILY HOME SAFELY. AND THERE IS NO WAY TO KNOW WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE! I CANNOT TRUST MY CAR AND THAT STINKS! I HAD SAME TYPE OF PROBLEM WITH A GRAND CARAVAN (1994?) AND THE MECHANICS COULD NEVER LOCATE THE PROBLEM. MAKES ME WONDER ABOUT CHRYSLER. *TR
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ALL THE DASH LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE CAR STARTED BEEPING, THE GAS GAUGE AND MPH AND RPM DIALS GO TO ZERO. CAN'T PULL A CODE AND THERE SEEMS TO BE NO APPARENT PROBLEM THAT CAN BE LOCATED BY THE DEALER OR A MECHANIC. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS! *TR
DASH LIGHTS START FLASHING MOTOR STARTS TO STALL AND LOSE POWER HAS HAPPEN SEVERAL TIMES IN PAST YEAR ALMOST CAUSING ME TO WRECK BRAKE LIGHTS EXPLODED AND SHATTERED SEVERAL TIMES. *TR
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, ALL THE GAUGES ON THE DASHBOARD LIGHT UP, CAR LOSES POWER. SOMETIMES IT WILL RESTART BUT SOMETIMES I WILL HAVE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I HAVE HAD THE BATTERY REPLACED AND WIRES CHECKED. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE FOR FEAR OF GETTING INTO AN ACCIDENT SINCE THE CAR JUST STOPS WITHOUT WARNIN…
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WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, ALL THE GAUGES ON THE DASHBOARD LIGHT UP, CAR LOSES POWER. SOMETIMES IT WILL RESTART BUT SOMETIMES I WILL HAVE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I HAVE HAD THE BATTERY REPLACED AND WIRES CHECKED. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE FOR FEAR OF GETTING INTO AN ACCIDENT SINCE THE CAR JUST STOPS WITHOUT WARNING. THIS IS SO UNSAFE AND SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE FOR THIS CAR. *TR
BRAKE LIGHTS CONTINUALLY BURNING OUT/BLOWING UP. HAVE TO REPLACE THEM EVERY FEW MONTHS. PUT IN CORRECT REPLACEMENT BULBS,DON'T KNOW WHY THEY KEEP BURNING OUT. WHEN I GO TO REPLACE THEM THERE IS SHATTERED GLASS LIKE THEY BLEW UP. *TR
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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